Skip to main content
K
kellyb6367822
Participant
January 30, 2019
Answered

How to change the default font in InDesign so existing documents are changed??

  • January 30, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 3042 views

I am trying to change the default font in InDesign from Minion Pro to Calibri. I was able to successfully change the default font so that when I start a NEW InDesign document, the font is automatically set to Calibri. However, I am trying to find a way to set Calibri as the default font on documents I created BEFORE making the default change. Is it possible to apply the new default font to all of my existing InDesign files? So when I open previously-generated InDesign files, and create a new text box within my existing file, my text default is already Calibri? Thank you for any suggestions you may have!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Manan Joshi

You would have to explicitly change it once for each existing document, open the document with nothing selected change the font to the one you want to make default, then save the file. The next time you open it the default should have changed to the one you selected.

-Manan

4 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 31, 2019

Hi kellyb6367822 ,

for several reasons it's not a good idea to change the default font with the basic paragraph style.

Especially it will become a problem if you collaborate with other users.

Better do custom paragraph styles with Calibri not based on the basic style, but based on No Paragraph Style and use that custom one throughout your documents.

See this discussion:

Why (or why not) use Basic Paragraph style?

See especially Rob Days' reply here:

Re: Why (or why not) use Basic Paragraph style?

Also the fact that all InDesign documents include a [Basic Paragraph] style that can be edited but not renamed is the root of the problem—every InDesign document has a potential style conflict that has to be resolved because a style named [Basic Paragraph] is always included.

…

Regards,
Uwe

    M
    Community Expert
    Manan JoshiCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 31, 2019

    You would have to explicitly change it once for each existing document, open the document with nothing selected change the font to the one you want to make default, then save the file. The next time you open it the default should have changed to the one you selected.

    -Manan

      G
      gaiagraphics1
      Participant
      November 8, 2022

      This works! Thanks so much, Manan.

      JonathanArias
      JonathanArias
      Legend
      January 30, 2019

      you could,  with no document open,  create styles in the panels. and these i believe will become default styles that will be there going forward on every new document you create.

      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 30, 2019

      Right, but the OP wants to change the default on existing documents.

      JonathanArias
      JonathanArias
      Legend
      January 30, 2019

      maybe load styles ( created as default as i said) and do global find and replace from the font dialog after the styles are created?

      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 30, 2019

      Can’t be done that way. You’ll have to change things when you open the file.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices